June 12, 20187 yr Okay everyone time to test your router knowledge. As some of you may know I do a lot of woodworking projects for for the foundation that gave me my service dog Paws4vets for free. Yesterday during a video conference the head huncho told me that because of the years i have done this they have decided to buy me a router setup and look forward to seeing more creative projects. Back story here is that they have other wood workers but when it comes to outside the box projects (i didnt know this) i was the only one who stepped up for them. (feels) I do enjoy creative thinking. anywhoo I know nothing about routers so i will be doing some homework on my own but would love to know your thoughts on the tool brands you like. things i need to consider etc. I was told to find middle ground price with all accessories including table and bits. they will be giving me a Lowes gift card for total purchase. So it will have to be product carried by lowes home improvement. What hp should i look at? what type of table, things that i may regret not having later. So basically any tips and advice on this purchase you can give me. thanks in advance everyone. i do greatly value your input and appreciate all your comments! Ps they choose the tool. So I am sure they have a project already in mind for lol. Edited June 12, 20187 yr by Lissa Hall
June 12, 20187 yr Wow - way to go Lissa! I will let the router experts answer your questions, but it may help if you would tell us the kind of projects you have been doing and what type you might envision down the road with the new gear.
June 12, 20187 yr Popular Post Lissa, I'm a Bosch guy and I have a Bosch 1617 EVS mounted under my table. I bought my table and built the base myself. That being said, I see that Lowe's has a Bosch table and a 1617 EVS available. Its a table top unit so it is short and you may have to build an extension for it to raise it up. The 1617 is 2 1/4 HP and that should be fine for your projects. I have swung a 3 1/2" cutter in mine and it is still working fine. Whatever you buy, when you go to Lowe's to make the purchase ask for a manager. The manager has the flexibility to give a discount if you explain your charity.
June 12, 20187 yr Author Cal I truely have no idea as far as type of projects... I guess I would need one for general purpose. I am sure they have something in mind which would explain of tools they chose a router... So far I have made plagues, intarsia dog heads, banks and large multiple leash and collar holders... I sure there is more but that is off the top off my head...
June 12, 20187 yr Popular Post The Bosch is a very good one. But I'll suggest criteria instead of a brand. Look for the ones labeled 2 1/4 HP, that is about as useful as one size can be. Consider a dual base (plunge and fixed). That gives you the best of both worlds, and might allow you to use the fixed base in a table and the plunge base for handheld work. You'll also want 1/4" and 1/2" collets (not a split ring adapter). Lastly I would stick with the more popular names...Bosch, Milwaukee, etc. I would recommend a brand (Milwaukee) but Lowes doesn't carry those...they do have the Bosch, and I think they have a veterans discount. Edited June 12, 20187 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr
June 12, 20187 yr Author I think perhaps one easy enough for beginner but good enough to expand with my skill. I am thinking maybe awards, plagues stands. At first then moving upwards.. If that makes any sense.
June 12, 20187 yr Author Also both of u recommended Bosch could u explain why? That way when I send them info they can see from experience woodworkers why they recommended what they did... I would like to give well rounded choices and information
June 12, 20187 yr Bosch has a history of making quality tools and that’s why I bought Bosch. I have been accused of being a router hoarder since I have seven of them but the Bosch is my fave. I have a Porter Cable and a very powerful Makita but the Makita doesn’t have a soft start. You better have a tight hold when you start it.
June 12, 20187 yr I second all of Fred's suggestions and, only add to buy carbide bits and, stick with a good brand. I believe lowes carries Freud. Most of my bits are 1/2" shank but, often a 1/4" one can be handy for smaller profiles. And, the plunge bases are much easier to adjust. IMO. As to brands, Ron's suggestion of Bosch is excellent. I'm more than satisfied with the Bosch tools I own, including their routers. Edited June 12, 20187 yr by Gene Howe
June 12, 20187 yr 19 minutes ago, Lissa Hall said: Also both of u recommended Bosch could u explain why? way to go Lisa... WHY I LIKE BOSCH.. 2nd to none CS/TS support that's American based and absolutely painless... They been known to support their tools that have been discontinued to your benefit... Their tools/routers are real work horses... W/ Bosch planned obsolesce isn't one of their games and offer less all around grief for they make quality tools that protect will protect your bottom line... Their routers are comfortable to use routers, they so are much more feature rich, sweet soft start, way better fine depth adjustment, strong no nonsense collets, and so much more... I think/believe Bosch to be an excellent and outstanding company... Bosch consistently scores high in/on all categories of quality, CS/TS, reliability and support, is as close as a phone call and your mail box...
June 12, 20187 yr Only but the router bits you need to complete a project. Try to avoid the package deals unless you know for sure you will actually use all of the bits. 1/2" shanks are more stable than 1/4" shanks.
June 12, 20187 yr I cannot vouch for brand of router as my Dewalt went bottom up after 20 plus years. The router table Ron pointed to is a bit small but you could build extension tables if needed, but I am thinking storage may be at a premium. Stick with the 1/2 inch bits carbide as they will perform best . For a one time project you might not need the top of the line bit but with the limitation of source Freud will be the best. Also remember with a 2 1/4 HP will need a good extension cord at least 14 gauge. If money is a problem with the table you could easily construct one with 1/2 inch ply and some reinforcement on underside.
June 12, 20187 yr You might also want to look at the Triton table which I see listed on their site. Might give a bigger work surface and need less storage space (might also need to be weighted down?). Looks like this and it only a bit more than the cheaper units. Can't vouch for the Bosch units (don't have anything that nice myself ) but agree 100% on good carbide bits (sorry, no HF stuff in a router). Edited June 12, 20187 yr by p_toad
June 12, 20187 yr Popular Post Congratulations on the Award, this will boost you up another notch in your wood working. I am like you, I like to make things different to challenge my abilities, and just take a picture and design my own version of a project. Get the Bosch 1617 router with the plunge and fixed base. mount the fixed base in the table, https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bosch-15-Amp-Adjustable-Router-Table/1132353 , Mount the fixed base in the table and use the plunge for out of table use, you can't go wrong with Freud router bits, if you are doing signs and lettering get some 60 degree and 90 degree bits and some lettering templates and guide bushings. For edging your projects you will need 1/8",1/4",3/8"/1/2" quarter round bits W/bearings. For detailed edging a Roman Ogee, and Beading bits ,For edging with a template a 1/2" straight bit with a bottom bearing. My Lowes doesn't carry Freud, they only carry a few Bosch, more different Irwin and Skil bits. I am not familiar with the quality of the Skill and Irwin, my experience with the Bosch bits is they are not as good as the Freud, but for beginner bits would be OK. Herb Edited June 12, 20187 yr by Dadio
June 12, 20187 yr 1 hour ago, Stick486 said: make your own table.. One-weekend Router Table.pdf If I won one, I certainly wouldn't build one. Just saying Herb
June 12, 20187 yr Popular Post 33 minutes ago, Dadio said: If I won one, I certainly wouldn't build one. Just saying Herb So, there goes that thickness sander build we were anticipating, huh?
June 13, 20187 yr Congrats Lissa. Obviously your work has caught the attention of others. Along with all the great advice and feedback you've received here, a couple of videos you might watch to help visualize some of the suggestions given.
June 13, 20187 yr Author Popular Post You guys are grest! A ton of information! Thanks for videos helped me understand more. So many good suggestions. Can't wait to start shopping!
June 13, 20187 yr Lissa, any way you might be able to talk them into 2 (or 3) routers? That big Bosch would be great under the router table, no getting around that. Using it as handheld, maybe not so much. If you were doing a lot of handheld, you do not want to get tired out or find out too late the router is just too big and heavy to use for any amount of time. Plus, mounting and removing from the base becomes a chore if you find yourself doing it very often. I would suggest a smaller router for those handheld jobs - you wouldn't be using those big cabinet bits handheld anyway. And/or the Bosch Colt trim router for doing smaller type projects. Just a thought. In my shop I have a pair of PC690's. I started with one router with fixed & plunge base. I was real happy when I bought a second router for then I was able to leave one in the table. These are small (by today's standards) routers, but have served me well for about 25 years now. I do not do any big cabinet type work requiring the big horsepower, weight and bits associated with that type work.
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